“Two days,” his slight wince revealed his discomfort. “They’re flying in tonight, but much like your mother, my mother haspeoplewho handle all that, for her. So, everything will be ready.”
’Twas Julia’s turn to look distressed. “I want to. I really want do, but…”
“Stay, Julia.” Deidre instructed. “I’ll go talk mother off the ledge until you get there. Two or three days isn’t going to tank her fundraiser.” She laughed and put a hand on Julia’s arm. “Don’t worry. I’ll channel your ability to calm her and Lauren’s ability to stand firm.” She raised her hands as if reciting something in a play. “I’ll be a steady ship in a stormy sea.”
They all laughed.
“You really are amazing, Deidre,” Julia said. “Thank you.”
“I second that,” Lauren added.
“Well, I see no reason we can’t all have a good cry to seal our mutual agreement,” Phoebe sniffled.
“Don’t be silly. It’s time I carried my load.” Deidre smiled at each of them. “Now, I’m going to go pack and see if it’s possible to make a plane reservation for tomorrow.”
“Please allow me to drive you to the airport, Deidre,” Drew offered, before glancing at the other three ladies. “I should probably mention my parent’s parties are generally black tie. If there’s anything you need, you could ride into Inverness, with us. I understand the shopping there is very good.”
“Sounds great,” Lauren said, sending a challenging look to Phoebe. “When we’re finished, Scotland will rue the day it let this gorgeous lady slip away.”
Phoebe snorted and waved Lauren’s comment aside. “You can’t polish a brass bucket into a silver carafe. Besides, a little horse manure on your boots is good for the soul.”
Och, but it felt good to laugh with people ye cared for, Reginald thought.
Still chuckling, Lauren glanced between Reginald and Drew. “So, what mischief did the two of you get into, today?”
Chapter Eighteen
’Twas strange to be alone in the glen. As far as Reginald kenned, ’twas the first time for him, in either lifetime.
Inside the shed, with the door and window open to the breeze, he heard only the faint rustling of leaves, the chattering of birds, and the scrape of his carving blade.
After he and Drew revealed their discovery to the ladies last night, they’d all talked late. But naught had been found to change the presumption that Fergus betrayed the Jacobites and stole the treasure. History dinnae care what happened to him, after that.
When Drew offered to contact the authorities, this morning, Reginald was only too happy to let him. What would a refurbished ghost ken about modern laws and procedures? He was grateful for Drew’s promise to be back from Inverness, when the officials arrived.
Reginald wanted to use the available time to finish Lauren’s butterfly box, despite the stench of burned wood reminding him of the repairs he should be working on. But he kenned Phoebe would understand.
Glancing up from his carving, to the chair Crayton dinnae get a chance to finish, Reginald could already see the finished product, in his mind. His fingers itched to complete it for him.
But first, the box. And as grateful as he was for the opportunity to finish it, Reginald missed Lauren. He missed the comfort of knowing even if she wasnae beside him, she was naught more than a minute or two, away.
Even now, kenning she’d be back within hours, was difficult. If this was a taste of what he’d face when she left for good, he dinnae ken he’d endure it, well.
Desperation tightened his fingers around the carving blade, making him cut deeper than he’d intended. He couldnae let her go. And he couldnae ask her to stay. No’ unless he told her the truth about himself. Which would surely drive her away.
But would he no’ lose her anyway?
Did it really come down to letting her go, believing he was someone he wasnae? Or letting her go kenning the truth? If the latter, she’d likely fear he’d gone daft. Or, at the very least, despise him for hiding the truth, from the beginning.
Despite saying she loved him, what if she only loved the man he pretended to be? How much was he willing to risk, to find out?
* * *
The afternoon hoursconsisted of wishing for Lauren’s return, and being afraid he couldnae finish the box in time.
When Drew’s vehicle finally came down the drive, the sun was well into the western sky. Reginald met the car and opened the door for Lauren. A flurry of female chatter greeted him behind packages that filled most of the available space.
“We had a wonderful time,” Lauren laughed, taking Reginald’s hand to help her out. “What did you do with your day of rest, from all of us?”
